Secular activists in Arad are happy with their lifestyle and community but they are fearful of the growing chareidi presence which they feel presents a danger, using Beit Shemesh as an example. Protests displayed signs “Arad won’t be another Beit Shemesh”, as they voiced their opposition to the growing Chabad and Gur communities in the city.
As living becomes increasingly expensive in well-established chareidi areas, chareidim are moving to new communities which offer affordable housing. The Gerre Rebbe Shlita has been sending chassidim to Arad for a number of years and the size of the community is large enough to cause an element of panic among the secularists.
As is generally the case in a new chareidi area, shuls and daycare facilities are often set up in apartments and other buildings and the secularists are accusing them of violating zoning laws by doing so. In addition, they claim the chareidim are buying homes at prices not being offered to other residents of the community.
Complicating things somewhat is the reality that the Chabad and Gerre residents in the city are at war with one-another, to the point some shabbatot in the past have been accompanied by physical violence compelling police involvement.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
You let a few in, and there goes the neighborhood.
Where did I hear that line before.
What does say about the role of frum Jews in the zionist medinah.
I don’t understand…if the article is about chabadnakim and Gerrer chasidim, why do you have a picture of yerushalmim — Toldos Aharon or Toldos Avraham Yitzchok?
Very misleading and only fanning hatred of yerushalmim.